Pedestrians makes their way through a parking lot in the rain at Brook Hollow and U.S. 281 north Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

Pedestrians makes their way through a parking lot in the rain at Brook Hollow and U.S. 281 north Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

Photo: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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A pedestrian makes his way through a parking lot in the rain at Brook Hollow and U.S. 281 north Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

A pedestrian makes his way through a parking lot in the rain at Brook Hollow and U.S. 281 north Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

Photo: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Skies darken over the San Antonio airport Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

Skies darken over the San Antonio airport Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

Photo: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Threatening skies blow over the Blossom Athletic complex near Starcrest and Jones Maltberger Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

Threatening skies blow over the Blossom Athletic complex near Starcrest and Jones Maltberger Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

Photo: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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METRO -- San Antonio Police units block traffic at the 2400 block of San Pedro after emergency units rescued a driver from high water on the road, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

METRO -- San Antonio Police units block traffic at the 2400 block of San Pedro after emergency units rescued a driver from high water on the road, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

Metro daily -Stormy skies moved over San Antonio as a man crosses in front of a school bus on Culebra near Elmendorf. Thursday, May 12, 2011. Photo Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.net

Metro daily -Stormy skies moved over San Antonio as a man crosses in front of a school bus on Culebra near Elmendorf. Thursday, May 12, 2011. Photo Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.net

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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METRO: School busses travel through the rain on St. Mary's Street as storms moved through the area on Thursday May 12, 2011. HELEN L. MONTOYA/hmontoya@express-news.net

METRO: School busses travel through the rain on St. Mary's Street as storms moved through the area on Thursday May 12, 2011. HELEN L. MONTOYA/hmontoya@express-news.net

Photo: HELEN L. MONTOYA, San Antonio Express-News

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METRO -- A line of thunderstorms hits the San Antonio area, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

METRO -- A line of thunderstorms hits the San Antonio area, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News

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METRO -- The sky darkens on motoris along Highway 90 as thunderstorms hits the San Antonio area, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

METRO -- The sky darkens on motoris along Highway 90 as thunderstorms hits the San Antonio area, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News

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METRO -- Motorcycle rider Carlos Madrigal waits it out at the corner of Highway 90 and Military as thunderstorms hits the San Antonio area, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

METRO -- Motorcycle rider Carlos Madrigal waits it out at the corner of Highway 90 and Military as thunderstorms hits the San Antonio area, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News

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METRO -- As thunderstorms hit the city, Patricia Rodriguez runs back into her car after filling at the corner of Military and Highway 90, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

METRO -- As thunderstorms hit the city, Patricia Rodriguez runs back into her car after filling at the corner of Military and Highway 90, Thursday, May 12, 2011. JERRY LARA/glara@express-news.net

Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News

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METRO: Rain storms moved through the area on Thursday May 12, 2011. HELEN L. MONTOYA/hmontoya@express-news.net

METRO: Rain storms moved through the area on Thursday May 12, 2011. HELEN L. MONTOYA/hmontoya@express-news.net

Photo: HELEN L. MONTOYA, San Antonio Express-News

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Skies darken over the San Antonio airport Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

Skies darken over the San Antonio airport Thursday May 12, 2011. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Imelda Garza waits to cross Fredericksburg Road after getting off her bus at the Five Points intersection on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Imelda Garza waits to cross Fredericksburg Road after getting off her bus at the Five Points intersection on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Photo: LISA KRANTZ, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Imelda Garza waits to cross Fredericksburg Road after getting off her bus at the Five Points intersection on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Imelda Garza waits to cross Fredericksburg Road after getting off her bus at the Five Points intersection on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Photo: LISA KRANTZ, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Troy Nash closes his umbrella as he runs to his bus at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Troy Nash closes his umbrella as he runs to his bus at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Photo: LISA KRANTZ, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Troy Nash, left, and Jesse Espino, right, watch the clouds roll in to downtown as they wait for their bus at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Troy Nash, left, and Jesse Espino, right, watch the clouds roll in to downtown as they wait for their bus at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Sylvia Ramirez looks at the incoming clouds as she waits for her bus downtown at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Sylvia Ramirez looks at the incoming clouds as she waits for her bus downtown at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Photo: LISA KRANTZ, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Sylvia Ramirez looks at the incoming clouds as she waits for her bus downtown at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Sylvia Ramirez looks at the incoming clouds as she waits for her bus downtown at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Photo: LISA KRANTZ, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Sylvia Ramirez looks at the incoming clouds as she waits for her bus downtown at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Sylvia Ramirez looks at the incoming clouds as she waits for her bus downtown at the Five Points intersection at Fredericksburg Road on Thursday, May 12, 2011. LISA KRANTZ/lkrantz@express-news.net

Photo: LISA KRANTZ, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Metro daily - A police officer keeps an eye on traffic as it switches lanes to avoid rain accumulated from a major storm that passed through San Antonio, on I-10 West under Culebra Rd. Thursday, May 12, 2011. Photo Bob Owen/rowen@express-news.net

Metro daily - A police officer keeps an eye on traffic as it switches lanes to avoid rain accumulated from a major storm that passed through San Antonio, on I-10 West under Culebra Rd. Thursday, May 12, 2011.

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A huge storm cell out of Mexico darkened the sky at midmorning as it passed toward the east, briefly flooding streets, delaying commercial airline flights and causing power outages for 12,000 CPS Energy customers that lasted all day for some.

Hail as large as 1.75 inches in diameter was reported in San Antonio, said NWS Forecaster Orlando Bermudez.

Tornado sightings were reported in Medina, Uvalde, Dimmit and Lee counties, but the reports were unconfirmed.

Lightning apparently struck a utility pole at Old Pearsall Road at Ray Ellison Boulevard around 10:15 a.m., sparking a fire that cut power in that area, San Antonio Fire Department spokeswoman Melissa Sparks said.

Temperatures dropped into the 60s, well below the average of 85 degrees, according to the NWS.

Austin broke a rainfall record for this date, measuring 2.96 inches at Camp Mabry.

The drenching was greatly appreciated by residents of the drought-plagued Hill Country, but not the high winds and lightning that accompanied it.

A reported tornado northeast of Hondo couldn't be confirmed, Medina County Chief Deputy Joe Aynesworth said, noting no major property damage was discovered after the storm had passed.

“It was black as night here for a while,” Carolyn Best said from her office on the first floor of the Kendall County courthouse in Boerne. “Some third-floor employees were saying, 'Where is a safe place to hide? Where should we go?'”

The cloudy skies were expected to clear by Friday, leaving warm, sunny days and cool nights in the upper 50s and lower 60s for the weekend, the weather service said.

Friday's high was expected to reach near 90.“This weekend is supposed to be wonderful weather,” NWS Forecaster McDonald said, “and the following weekend will be our next chance of rain.”